I Need Oxygen, PLEASE!!!

I'm not breathing very well today.  I'm not sure why.  It could be those damn lungs of mine collapsing.  :)  However, I think it is because Dr. Rhynes changed the dosage of one my medications, and my body is just not happy about it.  I feel like I'm drowning...which does not promote good sleeping!!

I'm going back to work tomorrow.  I know some of you think that is outrageous.  But, the way I look at it is I could stay home anticipating my shhhhh....death or go back to work and live a little.  I like the living much better!!

I have a blood draw on Friday for all my "diseases".  Dr. Rhynes will forward the appropriate results to my cardiologist and oncologist.  That way, I'm not having three different draws each week.

This is short, I know but I must get some shut eye.  I love y'all so much!!  Sweet Dreams!

PS ~ Have I mentioned that Barbi is going to be here on Thursday and she's staying until Monday?!!!!!!!!!!  YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

*** Please say prayers for Jay Carey and his family.  He was deployed and is now in Iraq.

*** Please say prayers for Bob Browning and his family. He has also been deployed, and will be leaving the end of May.

*** Please keep Nathan, Ms Bobby, Ms Pammy, Lenore, Trish, and David Carey in your prayers. They are fighting the battle with cancer too .

 

If this is your first time reading my journal, PLEASE go back to my first entry on 11-15-06 to read about the title MEET ME AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE!! Thanks!

 

 

 

My Boots Are Still On

I'm looking down at my boots.  They have been on for quite some time now.  They are a bit tattered and torn.  I'm sure some might say, they have seen better days.  I noticed one of the laces is missing.  The other, can barely be tied into a bow.  My boots.  They have carried me to crossroads and back to mountains I never thought I could climb. The soles show scars of my survival.  My boots. 

For those of you that don't "get " the above. I wrote My Boots (read down below) a few years ago...and this simply continues it.                            

                                            My Boots

I knew they were in the back of my closet somewhere. I'm not sure why I kept them. I really never did put them to good use. Rummaging through my closet I realized I must have known somewhere in my subconscious mind I would actually need them one day. So, I tossed aside my red pumps and black loafers...and smiled when I saw one of my hiking boots underneath the piled mess.

I talked to myself while I was fumbling with the laces. I said, "OK self its time to put the boots on. You have quite a hill in front of you...and it does not matter what they have told you...YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN WALK RIGHT THROUGH THIS." And a few tears ran down my cheeks because sometimes even the best boots can't help you over the hardest obstacles.

My boots are on now and they are planted firmly to the ground. It does not matter to me what the test results are or the "statistics." I've heard all the medical advice and what I should do while I'm "biding" my time. I am who I am and I have to believe my spirit and my attitude will "heal" me more than anything I have to pick up from a pharmacy or any needle that is delivering "medicine" through my arm.

Occasionally you may hear I've stopped climbing to brush the dirt off of my knees. You may even see me sitting right beneath the top of the hill sobbing. But certainly none of that will make a difference when you see me standing at the top of the hill celebrating my life full of miracles.

 

I cried when I was trying to fall asleep last night.  I am grateful to be alive.  I am grateful to be at home.

I do not know where to begin with my thank you's.

Pamela ~ I know this sounds cheesey and like a cliche BUT I cannot find the words otherwise.  You are the wind beneath my wings. You are my strength, at my weakest moments.  You are gentle, when I feel the world is being cruel.  You make me laugh, you dry my tears, you restore my faith, and you are my words, when I cannot write them!!  Thank you, My Sister.  I love you and appreciate you more than you will ever know.

Mom ~ Dad was right when he called you an angel.  Your patience with me is unbelievable.  You anticipate all my needs...and you rub all the right places when I am in pain.  I couldn't have asked to be blessed with a better mother. I love you so very much and more than I could ever convey.

Daddy ~ Just seeing your face makes me feel better.  You make me laugh, at moments where I just want to break down.  You have no idea the strength you give to me by your prescence.  Thank you.  I love you very much.

To All My Friends And Family ~ WOW!!  Prayers really do work!  Thank you is such an understatement for all that you give to me.  I am blessed by each of you. My life is richer because of all of you.

To "My" Girl Scouts ~ You lifted my spirits on a day I couldn't even begin to find a smile.  Thank you for that.  Thank you so very much for that!  I miss you girls and cannot wait to see you!!

 

I'm not going back to work tomorrow. I'll be seeing Dr. Rhynes.  She was my admitting doctor in the hospital.  She is going to be my Primary Care Doctor since I don't have one.  She'll do all my follow up care and my blood work since I remain on blood thinners for the clots.

I'm coughing quite a bit.  I don't know if that goes along with the clots in my lungs or the cancer!!  Otherwise, I feel tired.  My left foot hurts, more than the right.  Thank God it is only Gout.  Ha! Ha!  Y'all know what I mean.  I was extremely fearful it was cancer in my bones!  So, I'm not complaining!

I have some laundry to put away and then I want to tuck in.  Did I mention how blessed I am and how much I love each and every one of you?!!!!!  Thank you, for continuing on this journey with me.

 

*** Please say prayers for Jay Carey and his family.  He was deployed and is now in Iraq.

*** Please say prayers for Bob Browning and his family. He has also been deployed, and will be leaving the end of May.

*** Please keep Nathan, Ms Bobby, Ms Pammy, Lenore, Trish, and David Carey in your prayers. They are fighting the battle with cancer too .

 

If this is your first time reading my journal, PLEASE go back to my first entry on 11-15-06 to read about the title MEET ME AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE!! Thanks!

 

 

 

 

One more time

Ha!Ha!  Now that I know how to log-in to Rene's journal page, you'll never get rid of me.  I know you were all happy to see Rene's earlier message.  I'm so glad she's home.  Thank you for  watching over my sister and keeping her in your prayers.  I am truly grateful.  Hopefully, it'll be a long time before you see me taking over this page again.

Love,
Pamela

WooooooooooooHoooooooooooooooo!

I'm out of the hospital!!

I'm home!!!!

The Verdict Is In

Finally, we have an answer!  The pain Rene has been experiencing in her ankles/feet is being caused by Gout.  Here's the best definition I could find in easy to understand terms:

Gout is one of the most painful rheumatic diseases. Gout results from deposits of needle-like crystals of uric acid in connective tissue, joint spaces, or both. These deposits lead to inflammatory arthritis, causing swelling, redness, heat, pain, and stiffness in the joints. Gout accounts for about 5% of all cases of arthritis.

I'm including a link if you want more information about the treatment and such:
http://arthritis.about.com/od/gout/ss/informationgout.htm

Yes, it is completely treatable!  I don't know how you're feeling, but I am feeling relieved.  Rene sounds great!  Be thankful for prayer answered.  I know I'm not a doctor, but I had already resigned myself to the fact that it was probably more cancer. I bet alot of you thought the same.

So, here's the timeline of events.  Some time soon Rene will get a huge dose of cortisone in her IV.  She'll also be given oral anti-inflammatory meds and Loritab (a narcotic) for pain.  Tomorrow morning the Infectious Disease(s?) doc will come and check her out, and if she gives the OK, Rene will be able to head home tomorrow. Yeah or as my cousin put it WoooooooooooooooooooooooooHoooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

I know you're anxious to have Rene back on this journal page.  Maybe tomorrow night!

Thank you for your prayer, thank you for support, thank you for your love.  We are so blessed!

Love,
Pamela

Grumpy

Hi Everyone!

I'm sorry I didn't get back to writing last night.  I was really tired.  I figured since I had given you the good news for the day, the rest could wait until tomorrow.

So, it's now tomorrow.  I just want to warn you ahead of time, be warned, Rene is ready to come home and she is getting grumpy sitting in that hospital.  You might want to think twice about calling.  If you do call remeber you were forewarned. 

The tests to (hopefully) determine the problem in Rene's ankle will be completed this afternoon.  With any luck , we'll know tomorrow what is going on and maybe even get some kind of timeline for Rene's departure from the hospital.  Keep your fingers crossed, even better, say a prayer.  Thanks!!!

That's about it.  As for me, Sarah and Daniel just finished three long days of standardized testing with our homeschooling group.  Ellie and I helped out by providing childcare for the test proctors children. We celebrated the last day with an ice cream party for the participants.  It was fun!  We have guests coming this weekend and we're very excited!  I need to strighten up my house, so I'll wind this up for today.  I'll let you know if anything important comes up, I promise!

Talk to you soon!
Pamela

I wanted to quickly write and let you all know, that the V/Q scan indicated that the blood clots are under control.  I assume that means that Rene's blood flow through her lungs has improved.  Yeah!  Rene also said that the staph infection in her blood is also under control. Hopefully tomorrow we'll know what's going on with her ankle.  I'll write more this evening.

Love,
Pamela

She's back

Rene just hasn't been herself or sounded herself for a couple of days.  But, thank God, she's back!  My mother talked to her first this morning and called me immediately. 

Before I write what I'm about to write, I asked Rene first, because I was afraid it might hurt my mom's feelings.  Rene laughed and told me I better write it.  So mom, I'm doing this for Rene.

Anyway, I asked my mom how Rene was doing and she said, "she's chirpy."  "Chirpy," I asked, and she repeated, "yes, she's very chirpy."  Now, for those of you who don't speak Filipino, I think that means chipper in English.  David (my husband), said maybe she was trying to combine chipper and cheery.  So, the next you are feeling chipper and cheery, remember you're feeling chirpy!

Rene does sound like herself again, it's comforting.  She was cracking jokes, we were laughing hard, and just being silly.  She wanted me to make sure to tell you all of the latest info, so here it goes.  Her fever broke today, prasie God!  Her ankle and part of her foot are swollen and the docs don't seem to know why.  Because of her defibulator, they can't do an MRI, but they are going to do something called a nuclear X-ray. I think that is the imaging of radioisotopes injected or ingested, and where they go in her body.  I guess the idea is the radioisotopes will travel to her ankle and help to indentify the cause of the swelling. Rene also had a V/Q scan today. V/Q stands for ventilation and quantification.  In that scan Rene used an inhaler to breathe in radioactive material.  The radioactive material filled her lungs, and that produced a picture of her lung ventilation and blood flow to the lungs.  The results of that scan will tell us how those blood clots are doing.  I'll report on everything as I find out.  Next, because Rene's ankle is so swollen she now has crutches so she can get around. Let's see, her blood sugar is where it's suppose to be so that is good news. Oh, I thought of one more thing.  The infection in her blood in staph, so it is being treated with IV antibiotics, which are making Rene vomit, so to prvent the vomitting, thay gave her Fenergan.  All said, she did seem very chirpy this evening so I am happy.    When we hung up the phone she was looking forward to a good nights sleep.

Remember, the best time of day to catch Rene awake, alert, and willing to chat is in the middle of the day.  Also remember if she doesn't answer her phone or if she doesn't call you back right away there's a good reason for it.  She is trying to sleep and heal so she can get out of there.  If you want her to know you're thinking about her, call and leave a message on her cell phone.  She always welcomes well wishes.

Was that way too much information?  I always like to know as much as people feel comfortable telling me, so that's what I'm trying to pass on to you.  Ask me any questions you please, and I will do my best to get an accurate answer.

Pray that tomorrow Rene will awake feeling as well as she felt this evening and if not, pray that God will grant her the strength to cope and that he will give us the ability to  be patient and loving.

Sleep well,
Pamela

Nothing new

Not much news today.  Rene slept most of the day today and she was headed back to sleep when we hung up the phone about an hour ago.  I asked her if she's dreaming, and she said sometimes.  So I told her to dream about us (me and Rene) sitting around enjoying conversation and just laughing and being silly.  She promised she would.

She now has an infection in her blood.  I personally think the hospital is making her sick.  She went in feeling good, and now she has all kinds of things going on. For those of you who don't know me very well, that was an attempt at humor. Seriously, my mother said that the hospital staff has been so friendly.  Mom says she knows the names of everyone working on that floor.  She's quite the social butterfly.

I'm falling asleep as I type, I better turn in.

Blessings,
Pamela

Long day

I know it's late, forgive me.  Today was a hard day.  Rene was in a lot of pain most of today.  It's hard to hear her like that, but I have to remind myself it's harder for her than me.  I want to be someone she can lean on no matter what.  No matter the pain, the frustration, the disappointment, I want to help her bear it.  She would do it for me, in a heartbeat.

The good news?  When mom and dad left the hospital today, mom said it seemed like the pain meds were working and for the first time today Rene was eating.  That's progress. 

Keep praying for wisdom on the part of the doctors and for patience and understanding for the rest of us.  It's hard to sit around and wait for answers or returned phone calls.  We all love Rene, we want to know right now.  Rene doesn't have all the answers, neither do her doctors.  Sometimes the best thing we can do is just be patient and wait.  I know it's hard, I'm doing it too.

Tomorrow is a new day.  Take it on with spirit, with strength, with appreciation, for Rene.

Sweet dreams,
Pamela

One more blessing

Before I head to bed, I want to thank "Miss Irene's" Girl Scouts for being a blessing.  They really shined some sunshine into a dreary day.  They took some time out of their meeting today to call Rene, because they were missing her.  Every word that each girl spoke had a special blessing attached to it.  If that wasn't enough, they all made her cards that now decorate the hospital windowsill.  I will say a special "thank you" to each of them in my prayers tonight for as they have blessed Rene, they've also blessed me.

Good night!
Pamela

Blessings

I'm sitting in my backyard.  It is a beautiful day.  The sun is bright, but not too warm.  I can't see the kids but I can here them.  They are just on the other side of the six foot high, cedar privacy fence jumping on the trampoline.  They sound so happy, carefree.  It's nice to live life that way.  Life is a blessing.  I know we all have moments everyday when we wish something could be different or better but the fact is if you are reading this you probably live a life full of blessings you fail to recognize.  I know I do.  Take some time today and think of the ways you are blessed.  Then, take a little more time and try to find the blessings in the things that are not so great.

I wouldn't be typing in this journal if my sister was not in the hospital.  In fact, most days I feel too busy to even sit down and read Rene's entries.  I'm not too busy now, and now I see how important this is.  I've never considered myself to be particularly good writer, yet I somehow continue to find the words to put here.   Writing to you has become a blessing.  My sister inspires me.  

Rene is tired and feeling a little discouraged today.  Both of her lungs have begun to collaspe.  One is worse than the other.  They are doing some treatments to hopefully "pop" her lungs back out.  Rene remains optimistic.  Earlier she said, "my lungs are going to pop back out because I told them to."  Sounds like Rene, huh?

Have a blessed day!
Love,
Pamela

Update

It's me again, Pamela.  I just wanted to let you know that Rene is doing well.  She had a busy day with visitors, a constant potassium drip (that is finally over), doctors, nurses, IV's, midlines, drugs, drugs, and more drugs, oh, and someone educating her on Diabetes.  Yes, Diabetes, she has that too!  And she is still in good spirits for the most part.  

She was moved to another room.  Her new number is 864-512-2415, rm 415.  She said she is expecting lots of gifts and flowers to fill her room.  If you visited her the last itme she was in the hospital you know that she didn't have enough room for everything people were bringing and sending.  I guess that's a sign of how much she loves and how well she is loved.

Keep praying, that's the only thing that'll get you through.

Love,
Pamela

Room Information

Good morning,

I wanted to get this out to you before I started school this morning.  

I spoke to Rene around 1:30AM.  She sounded well, releived to be in a room.  She has a single room.  She said it is beautiful, wood floors and a flat  screen TV.  I guess if you have to be in the hospital, that's the way to be.

Her hospital phone number is 864 512 2620.  Just in case that doesn't work, her room number is 620.  

I'll write more as I know more.

Have a wonderful day!
Pamela

Not Irene, please read

Hi Meet Me At The Breakfast Table Fans,

This Is Pamela, Irene's sister (for those of you who don't know).  Forgive me, I'm not as witty and I don't write as well as my sister.  But, I will do anything for her and she asked me to do this.  Rene (that's what I call her) was admitted to the hospital tonight.  She has multiple blood clots in her lungs.  From what I understand she will be given some medicine to dissolve the clots.  I think that takes time and monitoring.  So, she'll be hanging out at ANMED in Anderson, SC (my mom said, "the one on Clemson Blvd," I guess there is more than one) for a couple of days.  She hasn't been admitted to her own room yet, so she doesn't have a phone number where she can be reached.  Her cell phone is almost dead so don't try to call her tonight.  As soon as I have more information, I'll post it here.  Try not to worry too much, now is the time she needs your strength to help carry her.  The only thing Rene asked is that we pray for her.  So, please pray for her as you know she is diligent in her prayer for you.  

More later,
Pamela

Do It Anyway

Anyway ~ Martina McBride

You can spend your whole life building
Something from nothin'
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might never come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy
It's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart
For all the right reasons
In a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing
A song you believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Yea - sing it anyway

I sing
I dream
I love
Anyway

 

I love that song (thanks Pamela!!).  Especially the end.  I sing, I dream, I love anyway.  Shouldn't we all??

 

 

*** Please pray for Reeda and her family.  She lost her brother in a senseless tragedy.

*** Please say prayers for my "family" at Capital Women's Care.  They experienced the loss with her.

*** Please say prayers for Jay Carey and his family.  He was deployed and is now in Iraq.

*** Please say prayers for Bob Browning and his family. He has also been deployed, and will be leaving the end of May.

*** Please keep  Nathan, Ms Bobby, Ms Pammy, Lenore, Trish, and David Carey in your prayers. They are fighting the battle with cancer too .

*** Prayers for Heather and Izzy in her tummy.  Baby Izzy needs to fatten up before she arrives in May!!!!!!!

 

If this is your first time reading my journal, PLEASE go back to my first entry on 11-15-06 to read about the title MEET ME AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE!! Thanks!

Precious Time

There just aren't enough minutes in the days!!  I couldn't get enough of The Browning Bunch! Where should I start?? We celebrated Daniel's 8th birthday (flip through ALL of the pictures please!) with Kentucky Fried Chicken (as requested by the birthday boy!!), ice cream, and chocolate raspberry cake.  Of course my father made it!!  You have to ask that???  :)  Daniel opened lots of presents. Many of which had the same letters on the box.  LEGO!!  I imagine he's going to be preoccupied for a while!

Sarah, Ellie, and Daniel made an attempt at climbing one of the big trees in the back yard. It was fantastic watching them!!  (Daniel climbs everything anyway!!)  I'll tell you what, it brought back some great memories for Pamela and I.  If you can believe it...I used to climb trees!  Yes, at some point...THE Princess wasn't so much of a Princess!!

My sister is just beautiful. Being near her makes me "breathe" better.  No pun intended, really!!  She simply makes me feel at ease and secure. I couldn't walk this journey without her.  I don't know how many times I've said that.  I'll continue to say it, until God gives me my angel wings.

Speaking of angel wings...David, Pamela, and I sat around one night joking about how God has to rethink whether he wants to "bring me home" or not.  We were laughing, discussing how God just isn't ready for me to bring havoc to heaven.  So, he continues to let me be a miracle...and of course allows me to cause a little chaos too!!

I treasure my family.  I could not be more grateful to have them.  Each moment, every hug, all the giggles, and the memories.  I hope I will never take them, or this life time for granted.         

I continue to feel tired and I am having tummy issues daily.  I've lost a little bit of weight...something the doc seems to feel very concerned about.  There is a HUGE part of me that would rather not have blood taken or get weighed weekly.  The less I know...the better I seem to feel!

My job is GREAT!!  I actually know what I am doing!  Somewhat.  Ha ha!

It's time for me to sign off.  I love y'all so much!!  Thank you for taking this journey with me. If I don't see tomorrow...I'll be saving you a seat at the breakfast table.

 

*** Please pray for Reeda and her family.  She lost her brother in a senseless tragedy.

*** Please say prayers for Jay Carey and his family.  He was deployed and is now in Iraq.

*** Please say prayers for Bob Browning and his family. He has also been deployed, and will be leaving the end of May.

*** Please keep  Nathan, Ms Bobby, Ms Pammy, Lenore, Trish, and David Carey in your prayers. They are fighting the battle with cancer too .

*** Prayers for Heather and Izzy in her tummy.  Baby Izzy needs to fatten up before she arrives in May!!!!!!!

 

If this is your first time reading my journal, PLEASE go back to my first entry on 11-15-06 to read about the title MEET ME AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE!! Thanks!

Party Of Five

I parked next to a bike when I pulled into the driveway this evening.  I walked by two pair of small shoes when I walked in the door. As I walked through the kitchen there was a backpack on the floor.  When I continued on to my bedroom, there were toys scattered randomly everywhere. 

               Explanation = The Browning Bunch have come to visit!!!!!!!!!!

It's A Special Day

I am the proud daughter of a Clemson graduate!!  Today, Mom graduated as a Master Gardener from Clemson.  Not only did we celebrate her graduation, but today is also her birthday!!!!!  I'd like to tell you how old she is, just so I can read all your comments saying "Wow she looks GREAT for her age".  However, I was told that if I posted her age, she'd disown me.  :)

Yesterday, I searched everywhere for the perfect gift for Mom.  It was almost 8:00 pm when I decided I might as well call it quits.  But then I drove passed the Hobby Lobby and I heard it calling me.  If you look at the pictures above, you'll see what I went home with.  :)

Before I left for work this morning, I gave the present to Mom.  If I would have known how excited she was going to get I would have taken pictures.  You would have thought she won the lottery!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!! Congratulations Mom!!!!  I love you!!

I know I've been "absent" for a few days.  Not to worry though, I'm just a little exhausted.  It is at times like this, I wish I had a lap top computer. (hint...hint) I could simply sit in bed and write my entries!!! 

Work is great.  I'm loving it.  Even though, there are a couple of less than motivated boys there that I NEED to retrain!  Ha ha!

I'm having blood draws and weigh in's on Saturdays now.  There isn't any new news, or good news either!  I still have cancer.  :)

I'm tired and must sleep.  I love y'all very much!!!

 

*** Please say prayers for Jay Carey and his family.  He was deployed and is now in Iraq.

*** Please say prayers for Bob Browning and his family. He has also been deployed, and will be leaving the end of May.

*** Please keep  Nathan, Ms Bobby, Ms Pammy, Lenore, Trish, and David Carey in your prayers. They are fighting the battle with cancer too .

*** Prayers for Heather and Izzy in her tummy.  Baby Izzy needs to fatten up before she arrives in May!!!!!!!

 

If this is your first time reading my journal, PLEASE go back to my first entry on 11-15-06 to read about the title MEET ME AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE!! Thanks!

Murphy's Law

 

Don't you think it sucks when you work late....have to rush to your Girl Scout meeting...and then your check engine light comes on while your racing down the highway??

Doesn't it suck even more when your parents are out of town and you aren't sure if there is a spare set of keys to their SUV in hopes that you'll drive that to work instead of the check engine light car???

I suppose it could always get worse....like I could have a terminal disease.  Ohhh wait...I do!!  Well, at least it's not contagious!!!!  :)

I'm looking forward to a brighter tomorrow!!!!!!!!!

Happy 10th Birthday to my beautiful niece, Sarah!

 

*** Please keep  Nathan, Ms Bobby (she had a second biopsy, and has not started any treatment yet.), Ms Pammy, Lenore, and Trish in your prayers. They are fighting the battle with cancer too .

*** Prayers for Ms Cathie and Mr Don.

*** Prayers for Heather and Izzy in her tummy.  Baby Izzy needs to fatten up before she arrives in May!!!!!!!

 

If this is your first time reading my journal, PLEASE go back to my first entry on 11-15-06 to read about the title MEET ME AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE!! Thanks!

 

 

Disclaimer

I know all who love me mean well, but SOMETIMES...

It makes me laugh when people ask me how I am.  It goes a little something like this...how are (pause, gulp) you?

It makes me laugh when my mother is on the phone talking about my cancer.  She whispers as if, I don't know I have it.

It makes me laugh when people say I don't look like I have cancer.  I don't think I look like I have cancer either.  Ummm...what does cancer look like anyway??

It makes me laugh when people look at me like I'm a ghost.  As though I might just fall out on the floor and die right in front of them.

It makes me laugh when people complain about stubbing their toe.

It makes me laugh when my mother tells me to wear sun block or buckle my seat belt.  Will that really increase my chances of survival here??

It makes me laugh when people are amazed that I can still get a date, down a few shots, and do a line dance.

It makes me laugh that others can't laugh in the face of cancer, even though I can.

It makes me laugh realizing others may not laugh at this humor.

Y'all do realize this IS funny!!  xoxoxoxoxox

 

*** Please keep  Nathan, Ms Bobby (she had a second biopsy, and has not started any treatment yet.), Ms Pammy, Lenore, and Trish in your prayers. They are fighting the battle with cancer too .

*** Prayers for Ms Cathie and Mr Don.

*** Prayers for Heather and Izzy in her tummy.  Baby Izzy needs to fatten up before she arrives in May!!!!!!!

 

If this is your first time reading my journal, PLEASE go back to my first entry on 11-15-06 to read about the title MEET ME AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE!! Thanks!

 

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
~Frank Herbert, Dune~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In The Words Of Erma Bombeck

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

by Erma Bombeck 
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending
the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before
it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was
stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried
much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day
because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more
while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't
show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I would have cherished
every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the
only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later.
now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's"
and more "I'm sorry's."

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it
and really see it... live it and never give it back.



Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.
Instead, we should cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God has blessed us with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally.

I hope you count the blessings of your day, each day you are given.

I love y'all and will be back later to write more.